how do you deal with snow plows
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: massachusetts
Posts: 60
Bikes: 70's fleetwing single speed 1999 marin quake 5.0 mtb 2014 trek 7.4 FX principia 650 TLC time trial 2009 trek 6500 disc mtb mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
how do you deal with snow plows
hi folks..curious how you deal with town/state snow plows and sanders on the road.?my commute i have two roads with minimal side walk availability.and both have some very narrow spots.the rest of commute roads are wider but there are still town/state plows and sanders out and about.this area also has sidewalks but they are usually covered in snow or blocked at end of driveways/roads.i do not usually commute in snow/snow covered roads due to these situations.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 1,771
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro 20, Trek 7000, old Huffy MTB, and a few others
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If I see one coming behind me, I usually pull off at a side street or parking lot. If that's not possible, they usually stop their salt and give me plenty of room.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,900
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2604 Post(s)
Liked 1,926 Times
in
1,209 Posts
I remember snow plows... from when I lived in the mountains up north.
Down here, our snow removal is accomplished by warming temperatures. Sometimes it takes a while -- why, only four years ago, we had snow visible on the ground for more than two weeks! Sadly, it took a whole week for the roads to clear.
Down here, our snow removal is accomplished by warming temperatures. Sometimes it takes a while -- why, only four years ago, we had snow visible on the ground for more than two weeks! Sadly, it took a whole week for the roads to clear.
#4
Fahrradfahrer
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 367
Bikes: n+1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Get the heck out of their way however I can. Mr. Snowplowdriverman doesn't give a hoot, likely isn't going to see me, and seems to be more than happy to sand the crap out of me.
(img from weurbanist)
(img from weurbanist)
#5
Senior Member
If I can, I get off the road I wait for them to pass.
i want the plow drivers to love bikes and I encourage them to plow curb to curb. I facilitate that by moving aside.
i want the plow drivers to love bikes and I encourage them to plow curb to curb. I facilitate that by moving aside.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
This question was once asked on a thread ”How do you handle approaching snow plows.”, with the initial post dated July 23, 2009.
My urban commuter route through Boston is well tended by snowplows, enough to allow me to ride Marathon Winter studded tires, which are excellent on hardpack snow. On those snow days I ride major routes that are the first plowed, and are wide enough to allow us both to manuever. I always wear a rearview mirror to keep an eye out for them (also important for possibly skidding cars behind me).
A fellow Bostonian posted this amusing description of encounters with snowplows:
PS: I just noted that the OP is from Massachusetts. Whereabouts, if you are inclined to reply?
My urban commuter route through Boston is well tended by snowplows, enough to allow me to ride Marathon Winter studded tires, which are excellent on hardpack snow. On those snow days I ride major routes that are the first plowed, and are wide enough to allow us both to manuever. I always wear a rearview mirror to keep an eye out for them (also important for possibly skidding cars behind me).
A fellow Bostonian posted this amusing description of encounters with snowplows:
…I have been riding a bike for transportation purposes in New England winters for almost 40 years now. A few things I've observed during that time…
#4) In really bad conditions the only motorized vehicles on the road will be snowplows, emergency vehicles and people in cars who are too stupid to stay home. That means that the bicyclist must be prepared to take evasive maneuvers and ride with extreme caution when in the proximity of any motorized vehicle during the winter.
#5) Snowplow drivers are super dangerous. Don't mess with them. They have often been driving the plow in horrible conditions without sleep for 24-48 hours and are soused in coffee and possibly worse and they may not be able to discern whether your reflectorized vest and blinkie is an alien spacecraft landing or the beginning of a migraine headache but the last thing they'll expect it to be is a bicyclist…
#10) Winter cyclists are definitely marching to the beat of a different drummer.
#4) In really bad conditions the only motorized vehicles on the road will be snowplows, emergency vehicles and people in cars who are too stupid to stay home. That means that the bicyclist must be prepared to take evasive maneuvers and ride with extreme caution when in the proximity of any motorized vehicle during the winter.
#5) Snowplow drivers are super dangerous. Don't mess with them. They have often been driving the plow in horrible conditions without sleep for 24-48 hours and are soused in coffee and possibly worse and they may not be able to discern whether your reflectorized vest and blinkie is an alien spacecraft landing or the beginning of a migraine headache but the last thing they'll expect it to be is a bicyclist…
#10) Winter cyclists are definitely marching to the beat of a different drummer.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 11-08-14 at 11:45 AM.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ft. Lauderdale
Posts: 269
Bikes: Trekalized 7.Sequoia Elite+
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The best solution i found for dealing with the Boston snow plows was to move to Florida. Believe it or not, i haven't seen one single snow plow in 4 years down here.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,811
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,018 Times
in
571 Posts
My city bought a sand truck about 10 years ago and got to use it last year for the first time. In anticipation of freezing rain, they sanded all the bridges overnight. The trucks were therefore no problem, but you couldn't use the shoulders on the bridges for a week.
#9
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
I don't take chances with snow plows, I just go on the sidewalk.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: central ohio
Posts: 1,536
Bikes: 96 gary fisher 'utopia' : 99 Softride 'Norwester'(for sale), 1972 Raleigh Twenty. Surly 1x1 converted to 1x8, 96 Turner Burner
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: massachusetts
Posts: 60
Bikes: 70's fleetwing single speed 1999 marin quake 5.0 mtb 2014 trek 7.4 FX principia 650 TLC time trial 2009 trek 6500 disc mtb mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This question was once asked on a thread ”How do you handle approaching snow plows.”, with the initial post dated July 23, 2009.
My urban commuter route through Boston is well tended by snowplows, enough to allow me to ride Marathon Winter studded tires, which are excellent on hardpack snow. On those snow days I ride major routes that are the first plowed, and are wide enough to allow us both to manuever. I always wear a rearview mirror to keep an eye out for them (also important for possibly skidding cars behind me).
A fellow Bostonian posted this amusing description of encounters with snowplows:
PS: I just noted that the OP is from Massachusetts. Whereabouts, if you are inclined to reply?
My urban commuter route through Boston is well tended by snowplows, enough to allow me to ride Marathon Winter studded tires, which are excellent on hardpack snow. On those snow days I ride major routes that are the first plowed, and are wide enough to allow us both to manuever. I always wear a rearview mirror to keep an eye out for them (also important for possibly skidding cars behind me).
A fellow Bostonian posted this amusing description of encounters with snowplows:
PS: I just noted that the OP is from Massachusetts. Whereabouts, if you are inclined to reply?
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
My "neck of the woods." I live in Kenmore Square and commute to Norwood, and in the nice weather via roundabout routes, including Canton and Sharon. An occasional long Saturday ride for example is down Rte 18 to (?) West Bridgewater, to Rte 106, to Bay Rd, and various routes to Norwood. A favorite is Rockland St on into Foxboro, and through to Walpole to Norwood. I also like Wolomolapaog to Moosehill Pkwy and that street by Spring Valley Country Club.
I have to leave now, but I'll try to post a ride report with pictures from this summer.
I have to leave now, but I'll try to post a ride report with pictures from this summer.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
here in MA they are killers. seriously. I never rode when the plows were out.